Partial vision-masking training device

ABSTRACT

A device for partially masking the vision of a wearer to aid in training of the wearer as, for example, in dribbling a basketball without visually monitoring the same. The device includes a nosepiece integrally formed with and joining a pair of shields both of which have a U-shaped cut therein so that a wearer will have unimpaired straight-ahead vision but will have downward vision precluded when the device is in place on the head of a wearer and held in position by a band.

United States [72] Inventor atent Virgil L. Sweet 657 Ravine Drive, Valparaiso, Ind. 46383 [21] Appl. No. 863,639

[22] Filed Oct. 3, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 28,1971

[54] PARTIAL VISION-MASKING TRAINING DEVICE 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 2/12 [51] Int. Cl r. A611 9/04 [50] Field of Search 2/12,13, 14,14 A, 15, 174, 209.3, 209.7; 351/41; 273/183,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 490,513 1/1893 Soules et a1 2/12 1,585,023 5/1926 1iant 2/12 X 2,095,517 10/1937 Bradshaw... 2/12 2,545,078 3/1951 Gardner..... 2/12 2,714,716 8/1955 McLennan. 2/12 2,721,322 10/1955 Harper 2/12 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,848 0/1914 Great Britain 2/13 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter Attorney.1ohn R. Nesbitt ABSTRACT: A device for partially masking the vision of a wearer to aid in training of the wearer as, for example, in dribbling a basketball without visually monitoring the same. The device includes a nosepiece integrally formed with and joining a pair of shields both of which have a U-shaped cut therein so that a wearer will have unimpaired straight-ahead vision but will have downward vision precluded when the device is in place on the head of a wearer and held in position by a band.

PATENTfinuzcaevsn 3529.869

INVENTOR 7T: 6 BY VIRGIL L. SWEET w 1%. mm

ATTORNEY PARTIAL VISION-MASKING TRAINING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a teaching aid and, more particularly, relates to a device for partially masking the vision of a wearer as a training aid.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is oftentimes desirable to partially obscure the vision of a person as an aid in training. This is particularly true, for example, in teaching a basketball player to dribble a ball without monitoring, or looking, at the ball while dribbling the same. As is well known, a basketball player is more efficient and adept if able to look up and ahead while dribbling without having to look down and follow the ball while dribbling the same.

While prior art devices have been suggested and/or utilized heretofore in partially obscuring vision to remove glare or as an aid in teaching games where the head is to remain down, none of these devices are satisfactory for use in precluding vision downwardly while permitting straight-ahead vision as is necessary in teaching certain fundamentals, as, for example, dribbling a basketball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a device for partially masking the vision of a wearer in at least one angular direction from straight-ahead vision, such as downwardly, without adversely affecting straight-ahead vision and thus provides a device useful as a training aid.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved device for partially obscuring the vision of a wearer for training purposes.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved device for training of a wearer wherein the straight-ahead vision of the wearer is tunnelized while vision in an angular direction therefrom is precluded.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved device for partially masking the vision of a wearer having a bridge section and a pair of shields that are integrally formed with the bridge section and have a substantially U- shaped cut therein to permit straight-ahead vision.

With these and other objects which will become apparent to one skilled in the art as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel apparatus substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment herein disclosed are meant to be included as come within the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The accompanying drawing illustrates a complete example of the embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the masking device of this invention shown positioned for use on the face of a wearer;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the masking device of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the masking device shown in FIG. 2 taken along the lines 33;

FIG. 4 is atop view of the masking device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. Sis an end view of the masking device shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a back, or rear, view of the masking device shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 7 refers generally to the device of this invention. As shown best in FIG. 2, device 7 includes a bridge portion, or section, 9, shields l1 and 12 and band 14.

Bridge portion 9 extends upwardly from the nose of a wearer, when the device is in place, or position, on the face of a wearer, and terminating at a straight top edge 16, rearwardly rounded as at 17, the lower edge 19 engageable with the nose of a wearer being smoothly rounded. Although not shown, top edge 16 may, if desired, be slightly curved downwardly in the middle portion to enable the device to be worn in inverted position should it be desirable to preclude the upward vision of a wearer.

Shields 11 and 12 are preferably integrally formed with bridge portion 9. Shields 11 and 12 have faces 22 and 23 and 25 and 26, respectively. Faces 22 and 25 have substantially U- shaped cuts in upper rims 28 and 29, respectively, that extend downwardly to a point 30 and 31, respectively, below smooth lower edge 19 of bridge portion 9 so that, when in position on the wearers face, straight-ahead vision of the wearer is tunnelized due to the cuts in faces 22 and 25. Faces 22 and 25 lie in a plane that intersects a substantially horizontal plane defined by the straight-ahead vision line of a wearer when his head is erect and when the device is in position on the face of a wearer (as can be seen from the drawing, faces 22 and 25 are substantially normally positioned with respect to the straight-ahead line of vision of a wearer).

Faces 23 and 26 are of increasing width from the bridge section so as to join faces 22 and 25, respectively, at one edge and have the opposite edge tenninating adjacent to the face of a wearer (as shown in FIG. I, the faces 23 and 26 terminate at the cheek of a wearer just below the eyes). Hence the joined faces of each shield together preclude downward view of a wearer of the device.

Shields 11 and 12 have tabs 32 and 33, respectively, extending from edges 34 and 35 of faces 23 and 26, respectively, opposite bridge portion 9. A band 14 is secured to the tabs and is of a size to fit around the head of a wearer to releasably hold the device in position on the head of the wearer.

Bridge portion 9 and shields 11 and 12 are preferably integrally formed (as are the faces of each shield) and are preferably of plastic material. Band 14 is preferably of elastic material and provision is preferably made (not shown) to adjust the size of the band, as is well known in the art, to fit a variety of head sizes.

In operation, a wearer puts the device on his head with his nose engaging the smooth lower portion 19 of bridge portion 9 with the inner edges of faces 23 and 26 adjacent to (or against) the face of the wearer below the eyes. The wearer will then be able to see straight-ahead (and upwardly) but will be precluded from downward vision. If used as an aid in training a basketball player to dribble without watching the ball, the wearer then starts to dribble and since he is unable to see downwardly, the wearer will be precluded from watching the ball, and hence will be encouraged to look ahead while dribbling the ball which is the desired end.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the device of this invention provides an improved training aid device suitable for partially masking the vision of a wearer without adversely affecting straight-ahead vision.

What is claimed is:

1. A partial masking device, comprising: bridge means adapted to engage the nose of a wearer when the device is positioned for use with the wearers head in a substantially erect position; first and second shield means connected with said bridge means with each of said shield means having a first substantially vertically extending face with a substantially U- shaped cut therein in front of the eye so that when positioned for use on a wearer, straight ahead vision of such wearer is tunnelized and vision above a substantially horizontal plane extending through the eye of the wearer is unrestricted but downward vision is precluded, each of said shield means having a second face secured along the lower portions of said first face and extending rearwardly from said first face to terminate adjacent and conform to the face of a wearer below eye level; and band means connected at the edges of said shield means opposite from said bridge means, said band means being adapted to go around the head of a wearer and releasably hold the device in position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said shield means are of sub-L-shaped cross section of decreasing width toward said bridge means. 5

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said bridge section and said first and second faces of said shields are all integrally formed. 

1. A partial masking device, comprising: bridge means adapted to engage the nose of a wearer when the device is positioned for use with the wearer''s head in a substantially erect positioN; first and second shield means connected with said bridge means with each of said shield means having a first substantially vertically extending face with a substantially U-shaped cut therein in front of the eye so that when positioned for use on a wearer, straight ahead vision of such wearer is tunnelized and vision above a substantially horizontal plane extending through the eye of the wearer is unrestricted but downward vision is precluded, each of said shield means having a second face secured along the lower portions of said first face and extending rearwardly from said first face to terminate adjacent and conform to the face of a wearer below eye level; and band means connected at the edges of said shield means opposite from said bridge means, said band means being adapted to go around the head of a wearer and releasably hold the device in position.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said shield means are of sub-L-shaped cross section of decreasing width toward said bridge means.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said bridge section and said first and second faces of said shields are all integrally formed. 